Two (2) new licence grades & improved privileges
for existing licence grades came into effect last year
with the announcement of the new
Licence Condition Determinations (LCDs) for radio amateurs.

The Radiocommunications Act 1983 was reviewed
and became the Radiocommunications Act 1992,
subsequent to which the Department of Transport & Communications disappeared
and the Spectrum Management Agency (SMA) was created in 1993.
now the name is the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) in 1997.

One of the first major projects of the new Agency was to review Apparatus Licensing.
As a result, Amateur Radio became a single licence type, with seven sub-types.
Beacons and repeaters are now formally recognised as a separate licence sub-type,
with their own licence conditions.

During the past decade, Australian amateurs were allocated five more bands
between 47 and 250 GHz, and two existing bands were widened,
while last year's changes saw an increase in the international 50 MHz "DX Window"
by 100 kHz to 50.0-50.3, increased power for Novices from 30 to 100 Watts
and 100 kHz more band access on 21 MHz, plus access to 29 MHz for Limited licencees.

While there has been something for everyone in the new licences,
privileges and operating conditions introduced last year,
licence fees still need attention, they jumped from 36 to 51 dollars for individuals,
and charges for new beacon and repeater applications were introduced.

Now an overall fee of $50 applies to all amateur licences including beacons and repeaters,
although the new application charge was removed,
repeater groups around Australia are finding the latest fees a burden.

The five new bands in the extra high frequency (EHF) spectrum were allocated
following a decision of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79),
but weren't released until after 1985, and the 10cm (3300 MHz) band
was expanded by 100 MHz.

Access to the worldwide 50 MHz allocation was returned in 1991,
with regional limitations in Ch 0 broadcast areas, to 50.0-50.2 MHz,
which was expanded last year.

An entirely new licence, the Novice Limited,
arrived with the revised licence privileges and conditions.

This provides a new "entry level" licence - a so-called "no-code" Novice licence.
It simply requires passing the Novice theory and regulations qualifications
and provides access to segments of the popular 2m band, along with 70cm,
and allows the use of both voice and what are regarded as
the very important digital modes.

This is seen as being particularly attractive to today's
young computer technology enthusiasts, as well as those
seeking to enter amateur radio but having more of a communications interest.

The old Combined licence, which was for holders of
Novice and Limited qualifications, has gone but the new Intermediate licence
has replaced it, with considerably enhanced privileges.

Where the old Combined licence simply added Novice privileges to the Limited,
and a distinctive call sign suffix (K-calls), the Intermediate licence provides access
to the entire 80, 15 and 10 metre bands, with Full-licence powers and privileges.
This makes sense, as previously,
Combined licensees had the knowledge of Full licensees,
without the Morse code qualification,
and were unrestricted in modes and powers above 30 MHz,
but restricted to Novice modes and powers on HF.

All licensees now have access to a wide variety of data transmission modes,
where a decade ago, only those with Full and Limited qualifications
could use data modes, and they were restricted to a few defined modes.

While automated reception and transmission of radioteletype (RTTY)
was well advanced in 1985, especially with the adaptation
of the then-burgeoning personal computers (the "glass teletype"),
packet radio was still in relative infancy.

In 1985, operation on the HF bands was restricted to 28 emission modes,
which have ballooned to 40 modes, today (42 on 10m).
Above 30 MHz, now, amateurs may use any emission mode that may be devised,
with the exception of "wideband" modes on 6m and 2m.

In 1985, the modes for all bands were strictly defined.
Today, above 420 MHz, any emission mode and modulation method
that can be devised may be used (and that includes those "not yet invented"),
but wideband signals must remain within the band in use.
In other words, "you can do what you like (within the radio regulations.),
but keep it in your own backyard."

That's a far cry from 1985, and strikes a positive blow for amateur experimentation!

The WIA is, has, and forever will be, closely and continuously involved
in improving the lot of the serious active amateur fraternity of VK.

Apart from improvements to the licensing structure and privileges,
the amateur examination system is now run by the WIA, since 1992,
with examinations being overseen by amateurs accredited by the WIA.

Every amateur, whether licensed earlier, or since,
and thus the amateur radio community as a whole,
has benefited from this decade of change.

[Reproduced (with minor updates)
from the packet radio TeleText.]

WIA WA - AR Guide - Decade of Change
With thanks to the original writer

Page 3 index - Page 10 - Page 11.1 - Page 11.2

The WIA exists for all Radio Amateurs, Does it speak for you.
Amateurs Unite and Conquer, United we stand, Divided we fall.

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